Mods, please move if in the wrong forum Can you guys help me Date and Value this Gerber Mark II that I recently acquired? I was told by the previous owner it was a 1979 knife. Here are some pictures, the sheath and knife are perfect, and the serial number on the knife is 'B0172S' The serial. 4.0 out of 5 stars Gerber BMF OOP. Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2015. These were very good knives. They were heavy but balanced pretty well. The grip had a foam type of covering that was difficult to clean but comfortable. The sheath has a pocket for the included compass and a sharpening stone on the back. Two metal clips are. The serial number places the date of manufacture in 1979. This is long after Vietnam but there were other conflicts aplenty to go fight in. Serum vst mac. No grey handled knives at that late date. It looks like the same person sanded off the black finish in the middle of the handle to make it look like a gray handle. Gerber described his young knife company, Gerber Legendary Blades, as the, 'birth of an enterprise that grew into big business,' it was true, but it was an understatement for sure. What had started out in 1939 as a small batch of handmade cutlery sets given as holiday gifts had turned into thousands of retail accounts around. Gerber BMF Wednesday, November 15, 2006. This is the early sawteeth version (11 teeth and not 9) based on its low serial number of 055366.
| GERBER MARK II PRODUCTION CHART | |||||||||||
| Military & Survival Knives | |||||||||||
| Serial # range | Qty | Handle color / mat'l | Blade offset | Blade waist | Blade steel | Blade serrations | Sheath color / mat'l | Sheath strap | Name or special | ||
| -------- | 0008 | 5 Degree | Narrow Wasp | Forged L6 | None | Brown leather | Right | Mark II Combat | |||
| 1001 | -------- | 2750 | Gray steel Cat's tongue | 5 Degree | Narrow Wasp | Forged L6 | None | Brown leather | Right | Mark II Combat | |
| 3751 | -------- | 1250 | Gray steel Cat's tongue | None | Narrow Wasp | Forged L6 | None | Brown leather | Right | Mark II Combat | |
| 5001 | -------- | 4900 | Gray steel Cat's tongue | None | Narrow Wasp | Forged L6 | None | Brown leather | Right | Mark II Combat | |
| 9901 | -------- | 4450 | Gray Armorhide | None | Narrow Wasp | Forged L6 | None | Brown leather | Right | Mark II Combat | |
| 14351 | -------- | 4950 | Gray Armorhide (See note) | None | Narrow Wasp | Forged L6 | None | Brown leather | Left | Mark II Combat | |
| 19301 | -------- | 4450 | Gray Armorhide | None | Narrow Wasp | Forged L6 | Fine (Option) | Brown leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 23751 | -------- | 4250 | Gray Armorhide (See note) | None | Narrow Wasp | Forged L6 | Fine (Option) | Brown leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 28001 | -------- | 4400 | Gray Armorhide | None | Wide Wasp | Hand Grnd L6 | Fine (Option) | Brown leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 32401 | -------- | 6600 | Gray Armorhide (See note) | None | Wide Wasp | Hand Grnd L6 | Fine (Option) | Brown leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 39001 | -------- | 5015 | Gray Armorhide | None | Wide Wasp | Hand Grnd L6 | Fine (Option) | Brown leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 44016 | -------- | 10419 | Gray Armorhide | None | Wide Wasp | Hand Grnd L6 | Fine / Coarse | Brown / Green leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 54435 | -------- | 9214 | Gray Armorhide | None | Wide Wasp | Hand Grnd L6 | Coarse | Brown / Green leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 63649 | -------- | 12353 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Wide Wasp | Hand Grnd L6 | Coarse | Brown / Black leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 76002 | -------- | 8999 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Wide Wasp | Hand Grnd L6 | Coarse | Black leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 85001 | -------- | 15810 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 100811 | -------- | 11190 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 9213 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |||
| -------- | C0590S | 9210 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 6818 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black leather | Left | Mark II Survival | |||
| -------- | E3487S | 5000 | Gray steel grip | 5 Degree | Narrow Wasp | 440C | None | Brown leather | Right | 20th Anniversary | |
| 10034 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Mark II Survival | |||
| -------- | H4854S** | 11051 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 200 | Gray steel grip | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Cutlery Shoppe | |||
| -------- | J1055S | 254 | Gray steel grip | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Cutlery Shoppe | |
| 8979 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Mark II Survival | |||
| -------- | CS0662 | 4207 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 330 | Gray steel grip | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Cutlery Shoppe | |||
| -------- | K9838S | 5503 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 100 | Gray steel grip | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Cutlery Shoppe | |||
| -------- | L9733S | 300 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Cutlery Shoppe | |
| 3494 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440C | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Mark II Survival | |||
| -------- | CS1975 | 2528 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440A | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| 1588 | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440A | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Mark II Survival | |||
| -------- | N4121S | ? | Black Fused Armorhide | None | Straight | 440A | Coarse | Black Cordura | Left | Mark II Survival | |
| Notes: | 1.) *A3012S-A4010S - not produced | ||||||||||
| 2.)**G prefix knives - not produced | |||||||||||
| 3.)***CS0663-CS0700 - not produced | |||||||||||
| 4.) There have been some references to there being only 2 proto type knives being made in 1966. | |||||||||||
| 5.) Possible that early 1967 serial #'s were 1001 to 3747. If this is true, late 1967 serial # would start with 3748. Some 5 deg cant knives have been found up to S/N 004188 due to special orders? | |||||||||||
| 6.) Special Forces Project Sigma engraved knives - serial #'s 8000 to 8050 - in 1968. These are not counted in the qty made for 1968. The blades are 2 line marked on the logo side.. 'SIGMA' - GREEN BERETS / VIETNAM - 1968 | |||||||||||
| 7.) Both Cat's Tongue & Gray Armorhide handles can be found in the latter part of the serial number range in 1968 | |||||||||||
| 8.) Early sheaths have staples & not rivets. 2 line sheath changed to 3 line in latter part of 1968 | |||||||||||
| 9.) Sheath strap went from right side to left side near the beginning of 1969 production. Some reference to that being around S/N 009990 | |||||||||||
| 10.) Fine serrations, which became an option from 1971 to 1976, were 14 teeth per inch. Serrations of 12 teeth per inch were observed in 1974 to 1976 period of production. Coarse serration introduced in 1976 were 8 teeth per inch | |||||||||||
| 11.) Yellow dive knife introduced in 1970 - there were no records kept of how many were made but some indications of approx 500 ? No serial #'s | |||||||||||
| 12.) Orange handles made in 1972 and last one in 1974? | |||||||||||
| 13.) Yellow dive knife discontinued in 1974 | |||||||||||
| 14.) Presentation models introduced in 1977 | |||||||||||
| 15.) The green sheath was introduced in 1976 and could be found into early 1977 | |||||||||||
| 16.) Black leather sheath has square bottom in years 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986. Some sheaths in the latter part of 1981 have square ends also. | |||||||||||
| 17.) Records indicate that were 2 knives for each serial # from CS1001 through CS1030. The first in 1992 and second in 1994 | |||||||||||
| 18.) Switched from L6 to 440C Stainless Steel, straight profile blade, December 1st, 1979. | |||||||||||
| 19.) Black coated blades were produced from 1982 through the end of production. I do not have any data on quantities produced. | |||||||||||
| 20.) There are references to red sheaths but this is in reality a brown sheath with a reddish tint. |
1,001 to 5,000 = 1967
5,001 to 9,900 = 1968
9,901 to 14,350 = 1969
14,351 to 19,300 = 1970
19,301 to 23,750 = 1971
23,751 to 28,000 = 1972
28,001 to 32,900 = 1973
32,901 to 39,000 = 1974
39,001 to 44,015 = 1975
44,016 to 54,434 = 1976
54,435 to 63,648 = 1977
63,649 to 76,001 = 1978
76,002 to 85,000 = 1979
85,001 to 100,810 = 1980
100,811 to 112,000 = 1981
The above information is from Bernard Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values IV. It is also partially printed in Mike Silvey's book United States Military Knives 1941 to 1991 (out of print). Knives that have an 'XX' in the serial number or a 'CS' are reproduction and commemorative knives. They are true Gerber products but the prices should be adjusted accordingly on them as they were not made in the above serial number years. CS stands for 'Cutlery Shoppe'. 1989 was the first year of the Cutlery Shoppe knives.
Gerber produced the Mark II in 1967 in support of our troops in Vietnam; ONLY the early Mark II's had a canted blade (5 degrees) which was made to keep the knife, when sheathed, close to the body.
Black handle Mark II's started around 1977. Roughly 1000 of the orange handle Mk II 'Dive' knives were made (Serial number 0248xx - 0415xx) from 1972 to 1975. Gerber also made a Mark II Yellow Handle Dive Knife (aprox 1972).
Gerber Bmf Serial Number Dates
Below is a list of the serial numbers on Gerber Mark II knives and the corresponding year in which they were made.
1,001 to 5,000 = 1967
5,001 to 9,900 = 1968
9,901 to 14,350 = 1969
14,351 to 19,300 = 1970
19,301 to 23,750 = 1971
23,751 to 28,000 = 1972
28,001 to 32,900 = 1973
32,901 to 39,000 = 1974
39,001 to 44,015 = 1975
44,016 to 54,434 = 1976
54,435 to 63,648 = 1977
63,649 to 76,001 = 1978
76,002 to 85,000 = 1979
85,001 to 100,810 = 1980
100,811 to 112,000 = 1981
The above information is from Bernard Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values IV. It is also partially printed in Mike Silvey's book United States Military Knives 1941 to 1991 (out of print). Knives that have an 'XX' in the serial number or a 'CS' are reproduction and commemorative knives. They are true Gerber products but the prices should be adjusted accordingly on them as they were not made in the above serial number years. CS stands for 'Cutlery Shoppe'. 1989 was the first year of the Cutlery Shoppe knives.
Gerber produced the Mark II in 1967 in support of our troops in Vietnam; ONLY the early Mark II's had a canted blade (5 degrees) which was made to keep the knife, when sheathed, close to the body.
Black handle Mark II's started around 1977. Roughly 1000 of the orange handle Mk II 'Dive' knives were made (Serial number 0248xx - 0415xx) from 1972 to 1975. Gerber also made a Mark II Yellow Handle Dive Knife (aprox 1972).
Gerber Bmf Serial Number Dates
Gerber Knife Serial Number Lookup
In 1968 Gerber introduced 'Armorhide' handles. Serrations came out in late 1971, early 1972. L6 (tool) steel was used for the blade up to about 1980, then Gerber switched to Stainless. There is an 'S' in the serial numbers of the stainless models. In 1984 a blackened blade variety was offered for the MkII (Model# 5707).
The Mark II design was based on a sketch sent to Gerber by Army Captain C. A. 'Bud' Holzman.
Gerber Bmf Serial Number Dates 2020
Gerber Bmf Serial Number Dates Chart
